Law firm of former Rep. Jon Porter to open Las Vegas office

By Steve Green

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 | 8:16 a.m.

The national law and lobbying firm that employs former Nevada Congressman Jon Porter said today it's opening a Las Vegas office.

Akerman Senterfitt today said the Las Vegas office, its 15th in the United States, will be led by Ariel Stern, who joins Akerman's Consumer Finance Litigation practice in Las Vegas.

Stern joins Akerman from the firm Ballard Spahr, where he was a litigation partner concentrating on defending lawsuits filed by consumers, as well as other complex cases, business litigation, administrative issues and election laws.

Akerman said its Las Vegas office opening also expands the firm's Government Affairs and Policy practice with former Rep. Porter, who will direct the government affairs practice from the firm's Washington and Las Vegas offices.

Porter, former congressman for Nevada's 3rd Congressional District, joined Akerman in 2009. In March 2009 was named director of public policy in the Washington office of Akerman Senterfitt.

Porter lost his re-election bid for a fourth term representing the Henderson-area district to Democratic Rep. Dina Titus in 2008.

The firm says gaming, water and energy policy are among its specialties. It also deals in health care, insurance and transportation -- issues that were at the forefront of Porter’s work in Congress.

In Las Vegas, Akerman Senterfitt said it expects to be active in financial cases.

Akerman Senterfitt said it is one of few U.S. firms with a national litigation practice dedicated to consumer finance litigation, defending lenders, loan servicers and investors in individual and class-action lawsuits; and prosecuting repurchase and mortgage fraud recovery cases.

Akerman's Consumer Finance Litigation practice has more than 60 lawyers and professionals, with significant expansion in 2009.

"Las Vegas expands our platform into another challenging market for the financial services industry and strengthens our ability to serve clients in the Western United States," William Heller, chair of Akerman's Consumer Finance Litigation practice, said in a statement.